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Asthma Information

What is asthma? — Asthma is a condition that can make it hard to breathe. Asthma symptoms can be mild or severe. And they can come and go. Sometimes asthma symptoms start all of a sudden. Asthma attacks happen when the airways in the lungs become narrow and inflamed. Asthma can run in families.

What are the symptoms of asthma?Asthma symptoms can include:

  • Wheezing or noisy breathing
  • Coughing
  • A tight feeling in the chest
  • Shortness of breath

Symptoms can happen each day, each week, or less often. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Although it is rare, an episode of asthma can sometimes even lead to death.

Is there a test for asthma? — Yes. Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and have you do a breathing test to see how your lungs are working.

How is asthma treated? — Asthma is treated with different types of medicines. The medicines can be inhalers, liquids, or pills. Your doctor will prescribe medicine based on how often you have symptoms and how serious your symptoms are. Asthma medicines work in 1 of 2 ways:

  • Quick-relief medicines stop symptoms quickly – in 5 to 15 minutes. Almost everyone with asthma has a quick-relief inhaler that they carry with them. People use these medicines whenever they have asthma symptoms. Most people need these medicines 1 or 2 times a week – or less often. But when asthma symptoms get worse, more doses might be needed. Some people can feel shaky after taking these medicines. A few people also need a machine called a "nebulizer" to breathe in their medicine.
  • Long-term controller medicines control asthma and prevent future symptoms. People who get asthma symptoms more than 2 times a week need to use a controller medicine 1 or 2 times each day.

It is very important that you take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, exactly how you are supposed to take them. You might have to take medicines a few times a day. You might not feel a medicine working, but that does not mean it is not helping you.

Not taking your medicines correctly can cause symptoms to get worse. If your symptoms get much worse all of a sudden, you might even need to go to the hospital for treatment.

What is an asthma action plan? — An asthma action plan is a list of instructions that tell you:

  • Which medicines to use each day at home
  • Which medicines to take if your symptoms get worse
  • When to get help or call for an ambulance (in the US and Canada, dial 9-1-1)

If you have frequent or severe asthma symptoms, your doctor might suggest that you have an asthma action plan. If so, you and your doctor will work together to make one. As part of your action plan, you might need to use something called a "peak flow meter." Breathing into this device will show how your lungs are working. Your doctor will show you the right way to use your inhaler and peak flow meter.

Should I see a doctor or nurse? — Yes. See your doctor or nurse if you have an asthma attack and the symptoms do not improve or get worse after using a quick-relief medicine. If the symptoms are severe, call for an ambulance (in the US and Canada, dial 9-1-1).

If you need asthma medicine every day, you should see your doctor or nurse every 6 months or more often.

Can asthma symptoms be prevented? — Yes. You can help prevent your asthma symptoms. You can stay away from things that cause your symptoms or make them worse. Doctors call these "triggers." If you know what your triggers are, avoid them as much as possible. Some common triggers include:

  • Dust
  • Mold
  • Animals, such as dogs and cats
  • Pollen and plants
  • Cigarette smoke
  • Getting sick with a cold or flu (that's why it's important to get a flu shot)
  • Stress

If you can't avoid certain triggers, talk with your doctor about what you can do. For example, exercise can be good for people with asthma even if it is an asthma trigger. But you might need to take an extra dose of your quick-relief inhaler medicine before you exercise.

What if I want to get pregnant? — If you want to get pregnant, talk to your doctor about how to control your asthma. Keeping your asthma well-controlled is important for the health of your baby. Most asthma medicines are safe to take if you are pregnant.

Asthma (Children)

What is asthma? — Asthma is a condition that can make it hard to breathe. Asthma does not always cause symptoms. But when a person with asthma has an "attack" or a flare up, it can be very scary. Asthma attacks happen when the airways in the lungs become narrow and inflamed. Asthma can run in families.

What are the symptoms of asthma? — Asthma symptoms can include:

  • Wheezing, or noisy breathing
  • Coughing, often at night or early in the morning, or when you exercise
  • A tight feeling in the chest
  • Trouble breathing

Symptoms can happen each day, each week, or less often. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Although rare, an episode of asthma can lead to death.

Is there a test for asthma? — Yes. Your doctor might have your child do a breathing test to see how his or her lungs are working. Most children 6 years old and older can do this test. This test is useful, but it is often normal in children with asthma if they have no symptoms at the time of the test.

Your doctor will also do an exam and ask questions such as:

What symptoms does your child have?

How often does he or she have the symptoms?

  • Do the symptoms wake him or her up at night?
  • Do the symptoms keep your child from playing or going to school?
  • Do certain things make symptoms worse, like having a cold or exercising?
  • Do certain things make symptoms better, like medicine or resting?

How is asthma treated? — Asthma is treated with different types of medicines. The medicines can be inhalers, liquids, or pills. Your doctor will prescribe medicine based on your child's age and his or her symptoms. Asthma medicines work in 1 of 2 ways:

  • Quick-relief medicines stop symptoms quickly. These medicines should only be used once in a while. If your child regularly needs these medicines more than twice a week, tell his or her doctor. You should also call your child's doctor if this medicine is used for an asthma attack and symptoms come back quickly, or do not get better. Some children get hyperactive, and have trouble staying still, after taking these medicines.
  • Long-term controller medicines control asthma and prevent future symptoms. If your child has frequent symptoms or several severe episodes in a year, he or she might need to take these each day.

Almost all children with asthma use an inhaler with a device called a "spacer." Some children also need a machine called a "nebulizer" to breathe in their medicine. A doctor or nurse will show you the right way to use these.

It is very important that you give your child all the medicines the doctor prescribes. You might worry about giving a child a lot of medicine. But leaving your child's asthma untreated has much bigger risks than any risks the medicines might have. Asthma that is not treated with the right medicines can:

  • Prevent children from doing normal activities, such as playing sports
  • Make children miss school
  • Damage the lungs

What is an asthma action plan? — An asthma action plan is a list of instructions that tell you:

  • What medicines your child should use at home each day
  • What warning symptoms to watch for (which suggest that asthma is getting worse)
  • What other medicines to give your child if the symptoms get worse
  • When to get help or call for an ambulance (in the US and Canada, dial 9-1-1)

You, your child, and your doctor will work together to make an asthma action plan for your child. As part of the action plan, your child might need to use a device called a "peak flow meter." This device is used at home to see how well your child's lungs are working. Your doctor will show you and your child the right way to use a peak flow meter.

Should my child see a doctor or nurse? — See a doctor or nurse if your child has an asthma attack and the symptoms do not improve or get worse after using a quick-relief medicine. If the symptoms are severe, call for an ambulance (in the US and Canada, dial 9-1-1).

Can asthma symptoms be prevented? — Yes. You can help prevent your child's asthma symptoms by giving your child the daily medicines the doctor prescribes. You can also keep your child away from things that cause or make the symptoms worse. Doctors call these "triggers." If you know what your child's triggers are, you can try to avoid them. If you don't know what they are, your doctor can help figure it out.

Some common triggers include:

  • Getting sick with a cold or the flu (that's why it's important to get a flu shot each year)
  • Allergens (such as dust mites; molds; furry animals, including cats and dogs; and pollens from trees, grasses, and weeds)
  • Cigarette smoke
  • Exercise
  • Changes in weather, cold air, hot and humid air

If you can't avoid certain triggers, talk with your doctor about what you can do. For example, exercise can be good for children with asthma. But your child might need to take an extra dose of his or her quick-relief inhaler before exercising.

What will my child's life be like?Most children with asthma are able to live normal lives. You can help manage your child's asthma by:

  • Making changes in your life to avoid your child's triggers
  • Keeping track of your child's asthma
  • Following the action plan
  • Telling your doctor when your child's symptoms change

Sometimes, asthma gets better as children get older. They might not have asthma symptoms when they become adults. But other children can still have asthma when they grow up.